Koch Backs Fidler To Replace Kruger In State Senate

Here’s one little nugget we missed during our kinda-sorta vacation last week: former New York City Mayor Ed Koch threw his support behind City Councilman Lew Fidler in the as-yet-non-existent race to replace disgraced State Senator Carl Kruger.

“I like to support Democrats whenever I can,” Koch told City & State. “[Fidler] is a Democrat who I consider to be in the image of Hubert Humphrey-kind of Democrat, the Scoop Jackson Democrat, the Pat Moynihan Democrat. A moderate.”

Koch played a decisive role in Republican Bob Turner’s victory over David Weprin last September for Anthony Weiner’s old Congressional seat. At the time, Koch said he was supporting Turner to send a message to Barack Obama about the White House’s policies towardIsrael. Message sent, Koch has since said he would vote for Obama for re-election next year.

… “He asked to see me, I saw him. He asked my support, and I said you got it,” Koch said.

Of course, officially there is no campaign to replace Carl Kruger right now. Since the pol resigned before pleading guilty to taking bribes totaling $1 million, anyone wanting to take his place would have to wait for the governor to select a date for the special election. Only then can the local party bosses decide who the candidate is (there are no primaries in a special election), and allow the campaigns to officially go forward.

This, of course, isn’t the only shadow campaign unfolding in Southern Brooklyn. Just as Fidler is lining up for Kruger’s seat, would-be City Council reps are eyeing the vacancy left by Fidler. Regardless of whether Fidler wins Kruger’s seat, he is term-limited out in 2013.

Mercedes Narcisse, whose public profile says that she’s the head of Canarsie by Choice, an “organization that addresses real estate issues & gives the strip a face-lift since 1994,” recently formed a Facebook event to promote the campaign’s launch later next week.

… With a base in Canarsie’s Caribbean community, the Haitian-born Narcisse could be one of the top contenders for the seat. Ms. Narcisse also has political ties to Senate Minority Leader John Sampson and Fidler’s own 41st Assembly District Democratic Club in Southeast Brooklyn.

Also in top contention for the seat is District Leader Frank Seddio, who has connections to the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club, one of the more influential Democratic clubs in New York City. Mr. Seddio, a former Brooklyn surrogate judge, is a colorful character to say the least.